Today, 11th April, marks the birth anniversary of the pioneer Jyotiba Phule. It was also supposed to mark the release of Phule- a film based on the lives of Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai.
However, the film’s release was postponed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) due to concerns that it might hurt the sentiments of the Brahmin community.
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Phule, starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha, chronicles the life and work of social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule, known for their efforts to eradicate caste and gender discrimination in 19th-century India.
Soon after the trailer was released, Anand Dave, President of the Brahmin Federation, raised objections, claiming that the film promoted casteism.
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The CBFC, which had initially cleared the film with a ‘U’ certificate, later demanded multiple changes to the final cut.
These included the removal of a voiceover referencing the caste system, and the exclusion of historically sensitive terms such as Mahar, Mang, Peshwai, and the Manusmriti system of caste.
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Several dialogues were also revised to make them more suitable for a general audience.
In 19th-century India, the period in which this film is set, the caste system existed in its most brutal form. It is a documented historical fact that Brahmins oppressed lower-caste individuals and denied them access to education and basic rights.
Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule fought to change that. They championed the right to education for Dalits and women, among many other social reforms.
The film Phule does not promote casteism, it simply tells the truth faced by Dalits on the big screen.
Casteism is a topic that needs to be addressed, especially now when discrimination may no longer be as loud or visible, but is still deeply rooted and silently practiced.
The film is meant to be uncomfortable. Uncomfortable subjects must be shown and discussed if we want to spark real conversations.
These cuts demanded by the CBFC feel hypocritical, especially when compared to their treatment of films like Chhaava, where similar changes weren’t imposed to protect the sentiments of the Muslim community.
Moreover, when a film like Jaat, which openly depicts violence, includes scenes of mass murder and even portrays the rape of a woman constable, gets passed with a U/A rating, it seems unfair that a film addressing caste discrimination is forced to make multiple cuts.
History cannot be changed; only the present can learn from the mistakes of the past. Phule is a story of social reformers who stood up for the oppressed when no one else did.
It’s a shame that such an important film is facing controversy simply because it challenges the ego of a particular section of society.
